FOOD HUB IMPACTS: 2023

In 2023, Matson Consulting performed a statewide economic analysis of food hubs in North Carolina.

$8.2M

Total food hub sales

64%

of sales remitted to producers

Food hubs purchased

$3.7M

In food purchases

120,880

Boxes of fresh, local food distributed

562

NC Producers

127

Community Partners

86%

Median Percentage of NC Food Hub Collaborative’s producers that are small farmers

Top four market channels by sales

Restaurants

$1,516,921

Grocery Stores

$1,461,235

Individual Consumers

$877,938

Community Organizations

$850,331

91% of food hubs expect increasing sales through community organizations

45% of food hubs report planning to enter into healthcare/hospital markets in the future

Successes

Policy & Advocacy

  • In partnership with other food hubs outside of the Collaborative, successfully lobbied the State for $4M in food hub infrastructure funding (2023)

  • Participation in both LFPA & LFPA+ (Local Food Purchasing Agreement program) that draws down $21M in local food purchasing dollars for food access and pays fair market value to farmers

  • Active partnership with NC Dept. of Agriculture to expand reach and impact of federally-directed funds for local food

Evaluation & Analysis

  • Commissioned an economic impact assessment of NC food hubs across the state

  • Evaluation of LFPA (farmers, food hubs, pantries and clients) to document impact and build the case for continued funding

Capacity Building

  • Provided investment in technology and marketing for food hubs across the Collaborative

  • Building capacity through peer-to-peer consulting, shared consultants and resource directory, and organizational development support

  • Working to increase and formalize hub-to-hub transactions

  • Host an annual convening to share best practices and highlight emerging trends

Regional Efforts

  • Joint fundraising to expand project scope and impact (e.g. USDA ClimateSmart Commodities Grant, USDA Southeast Regional Food Business Center)

  • Participation and collaboration around regional planning and evaluation efforts and Healthy Opportunities Pilot

  • Brokering partnerships with institutional markets